murky

adjective

ˈmər-kē How to pronounce murky (audio)
Definition of murkynext
1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light I didn't like walking around the murky campground without a flashlight

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2
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer the murky shadows of the cemetery

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3
as in hazy
filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension skies made murky from the smoke of forest fires that were many miles to the west

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4
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning a murky reply to a question about his intentions

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5
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly a gubernatorial candidate with a murky position on the hot-button issue of capital punishment

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of murky But in the world of online streaming, the business of running a record label or record label business has gotten a lot murkier. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 14 Aug. 2026 Its other requirements for induction, however, are a bit murky. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2026 Either Bass or Raman could win, but if the public’s understanding of the markets is murky, experts say, voters may confuse their speculation for certainty. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 The youth contest for $250,000 — part of the White House's Freedom 250 festivities — featured over 120 competitors drawn from a murky selection process. — Noah White, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for murky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murky
  1. darkened
  2. dark
  3. hazy
  4. ambiguous
  5. vague
  6. bleak
  7. misty
  8. cryptic
Adjective
  • This trend has been pretty pervasive among designer bags recently, with shoppers buying new Prada and Chanel bags with darkened leather to give them a used look, or sourcing vintage Celine bags with obvious signs of wear.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
Definition of darkened
Adjective
  • The design featured an orange-and-black clown outfit, black gloves and a dark face covering with an exaggerated smiling mouth.
    — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Funky black garlic hides within that mushroom melange, and the pie arrives dotted with a dramatic, dark tamarind sauce.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of dark
Adjective
  • Ivan’s room feels practically airless, his face obscured in shadows, or captured in hazy side profiles, as Anica’s bright, concerned gaze holds the frame’s focus.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The cutter has been great for the supinating Cavalli, but the benefit of a new pitch is hazier with some of the small sample guys.
    — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of hazy
Adjective
  • Prospective tenants are not allowed to tour the place before renting, and residents have long reported dicey roommate situations and ambiguous policies surrounding tenant rights and eviction.
    — Diamy Wang August 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The fate of Duke, diagnosed with a life-threatening ascending aortic aneurysm, is ambiguous.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Schedule the appointment, set the reminder, protect the rest window, and let one steady step make the pressure feel less vague.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • However, the piece maintains that vague assurances are not enough and that Becerra should commit to a specific time and place, framing a face-to-face debate as an obligation rather than a tactical option.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of vague
Adjective
  • The past summer in Russia has also been shaping up as a bleak season for Putin’s Russia.
    — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Tyler Biadasz suffered a serious injury to his anterior cruciate ligament in practice this week, and the prognosis sounds bleak.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of bleak
Adjective
  • At Emporio Armani, models walked the runway in gossamer-thin tanks and misty trousers that toed the line between lavender and blue.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 June 2026
  • Base yourself in Cerro Verde or Lago de Coatepeque for crater views and misty mornings above the clouds, then climb Santa Ana Volcano.
    — Angelika Pokovba, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2026
Definition of misty
Adjective
  • But the ambassador retorts with evasion, keeping the language cryptic.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Linney also posted several cryptic quotes to her Instagram Stories.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of cryptic

Browse Nearby Words

murks
murky
murmur
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Cite this Entry

“Murky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murky. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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